Cost: $18.95 (On sale $17.95 until 14 Sept 14)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: J. Lohr Winery
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Nothing complex, just easy drinking and pleasant Chard

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, buttered popcorn, mango, pineapple and Kiwi fruit. Full body with average acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Gouda cheese.

Tasted: 27 Aug 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 258699

Cost: $53.95 (Clearance price: $37.80)
Grape Variety: Viognier
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Condrieu
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Boissonnet
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

The nectar to the gods, and I need to give my standard warning: “Danger Will Robinson” easy to drink 2 to 3 bottles

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium to low intense nose. This smooth and silky wine features white peach, apricots, honeysuckle, honey, honeydew melon, mango, almonds and wet stone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: To quote from www.bestwinesonline.com “Condrieu. Not Viognier. Lets be clear. Though Condrieu is made from 100% Viognier, most Viogniers ARE NOT Condrieu. Sorry if that sounds high-falutin’ or snobby but it is true. There’s a reason why Viognier is Viognier but Condrieu is Condrieu… Condrieu is manly Viognier, grown by manly men in a manly place. It is not wimpy, it is not easy but it’s oh-so GOOD… Condrieu is gluggable. You can’t stop drinking it. I can’t stop drinking it. We often hold ourselves to just one. After two bottles we can start getting into trouble.” Oh so truly written.

Drink now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Foie Gras

Tasted: 15 Aug 2014

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price 10/10) Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO: 329664

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: California
Region: Central Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hope Family Wines
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A smooth, simple Chard that’s not bad, just wish it was a few dollars less

Description: Bright medium gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features light toasted oak, lemon rind, pineapple, young mango, green and red apples. Medium+ body with fairly good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: For a dollar more you get a better Chard from Napa at Beringer’s

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 6 Aug 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8/10 Total: 16.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 960120

Cost: $22.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Oldenburg
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.

At first taste there was no fruit just Oak spice, but after 30 min it just opened up to a good Chard

Description: Bright light to medium gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This complex wine features medium toasted oak, oak spice, lemon tart, pineapple, dill, green apples, peach, ginger, dill and a hint of caramel. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Needs to decant  for 30 min to bring out the fruit. Both the cool climate and Montrachet style glassware work, just both very different.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with Tai Pai Chicken.

Tasted: 6 Aug 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 374645